Letter folder and envelope stuffer



Dec. 2, 1969 STUART 3,481,595

LETTER FOLDER AND ENVELOPE STUFFER Filed Dec. 1, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Dec. 2, 1969 s'ru -r 4 3,481,595

LETTER FOLDER AND ENVELOPE STUFFER Filed Dec. 1, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Dec. 2, 1969 R. STUART 3,481,595

LETTER FOLDER END ENVELOPE STUFFER Filed Dec. 1, 1967 Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 3f/VVI/WWE.

United States Patent O 3,481,595 LETTER FOLDER AND ENV ELOPE STUFFERRobert Stuart, 400 E. Randolph, Chicago, II]. 60601 Filed Dec. 1, 1967,Ser. No. 687,312 Int. 'Cl. B65h 45/18 US. Cl. 27061 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides aneconomical desk-mountable assembly, including a base, a slide witharticulated walls, a finger arrangement and an envelope-supporting endpocket, whereby manual movement of the slide in one directionarticulates the walls and actuates the finger arrangement to fold aletter sheet and continued movement of the slide in the same directiontransfers the folded sheet into the pocket from whence the envelope,with the letter therein, may then be manually removed. Movement of theslide in the opposite direction resets the assembly.

This invention relates to the field of ofiice machines and hasparticular relation to a desk-mountable, manually-operable means forfolding paper sheets, such as letters and the like, and for stuffing thesame into envelopes.

One purpose of the invention is to provide a simplified, compactletter-folding and envelope-stufling mechanism.

Another purpose is to provide a letter-folding, envelope-stuffingmechanism of maximum economy in construction and use.

Another purpose is to provide manually-operable means for folding aletter and stuffing the same in an envelope in a single motion.

Other purposes may appear from time to time during the course of thespecification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view with parts in one position;

FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6 are top planviews with parts in progressivelyfurther positions in the operation of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a detail view On an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 8 is an end view;

FIGURE 9 is a detail view on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 10 is a detail view on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 11 is a detail view on an enlarged scale; and

FIGURE 12 is a view on the line 1212 of FIG- URE 11.

Like parts are indicated by like numerals throughout the specificationand drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 generally designates a basesuitable for positioning on a table or desk. A longitudinal slot 2 isformed in the upper surface of base 1 and slide 3 is movable therein.The slide 3 is movable adjacent the lower forward surface of a fixedvertical wall 4 upstanding on the base 1.

Upstanding on slide 3 along the forward face of wall 4 is aletter-folding structure comprising a movable end pocket segment 5.Extending from the pocket 5 in substantial parallel relation with thewall is a handle 6. The end pocket 5 is open in its direction ofmovement toward letter-folding position. Handle 6 extends from pocket 5"ice in the opposite direction. Secured to the forward Wall or outerwall of end pocket 5 and to the forward edge thereof is a pair ofarticulated letter-folding panels 7, 8. Panel 7 is hinged to pocket '5,as indicated at 9, and t panel 8, as indicated at 10. The forward edgeof panel 8 is urged toward wall 4 by a panel 11 inged, as at and urgedby spring 13. A stop 14 is mounted on base 1 to limit outward movementof panel 11. Panel 11 is hinged as at 12 to a fixed pocket-forming wall15 secured in spaced parallel relationship with wall 4 by brackets 15aand upwardly spaced from base 1, as may be best seen in FIGURE 1. Wall15 is actually in spaced parallel relationship with an end portion 4a ofwall 4, which wall portion has its lower edge also upwardly spaced frombase 1. The pocket formed by wall portions 15, 4a is indicated generallyby the numeral 16. The pocket 16 is open at both ends to receive as at16a a folded letter and portions of pocket 5 and panels 7, 8 and foroutward extension of a portion of the folded letter outwardly of thepcket 16 and through its end opening indicated at 16b. A recess 17 isformed in the end surfaces of wall portions 4a, 15 for purposesdescribed below. As shown in dotted lines in FIGURES 1-4, the pocketstructure 16 is formed and dimensioned to be received within an openenvelope inserted thereon.

The rear vertical wall 4 is broken, intermediate its ends, for mountingof a finger member or finger panel 20. The panel 20 is urged outwardlyof wall 4 and toward panel 7, 8 by spring 21. A lock element 22 isslidably supported in wall 4, as may be best seen in FIGURE 10, forholding finger panel 20 in alignment with wall 4. Lock 22 has an ear orcam portion 23 extending forwardly of wall 4 and positioned forengagement with a catch 24 pivotally carried by slide 3, as best seen inFIGURES 11 and 12. The catch 24 dangles by gravity from slide 3 formovement against a slide surface 25 of slide 3 when the slide is movedin one direction and against surface 26 when the slide is moved in theopposite direction.

As best seen in FIGURES 9 and 10, an abutment 27 is yieldingly urgedinto a position outstanding from wall 4 by a suitable spring 28. Arecessed side wall portion 3a of slide 3 is engageable With abutment 27to cam the same into alignment with wall 4 as the slide moves in onedirection.

Whereas there has been shown and described an operative form of theinvention, it should be understood that this showing and description areto be taken in an illustrative or diagrammatic sense only. There aremany modifications in and to the invention which will be apparent tothose skilled in the art and which will fall within the scope and spiritof the invention.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

Wall 4, with finger panel 20 closed, forms with pocket 5 and panels 7and 8 an upwardly open, sheet-receiving chamber, one end of which isformed of the pocket 5 having a closed rear end and opposed, spaced wallsurfaces 5a, 5b. A sheet of paper to be folded, such as a letter, isinserted downwardly into the chamber or space between wall 4 and thepanels 7 and 8 and into the pocket 5 as shown in broken lines in FIGURES3-4. With the letter so placed one end edge of the letter is engageablewith the closed rear end of pocket 5 and the opposite end edge of theletter is engageable with abutment 27. Similarly, the forward edge ofpanel 8 is engageable with abutment 27. An envelope is placed overpocket 16 as shown in FIGURES 1-7.

The operator grasps handle 6 and moves it along the front surface ofwall 4 or to the right as the parts are shown in the drawings. Theresulting movement of slide 3 brings catch 24 into engagement with ear23 and surface 25 to cam lock 22 downwardly and thus to unlock fingerpanel 20. Thereupon the spring 21 moves panel 20 toward the letter andtoward folding panels 7, 8 to initiate a fold in the letter.Simultaneously, movement of handle 6 produces a movement of pocket toflex the letter and to articulate panels 7 and 8 into the positionsindicated in FIGURES 26, the letter and panel 8 having their forwardedges restrained by abutment 27. It will be observed that panel 7 ismoved rearwardly upon pocket 5 and panel 8 is closed upon panel 7,folding the letter into three folds, the spring-urged panel 11 urgingpanel 8 toward panel 7 as handle 6 is further moved to the right as theparts are shown. Portion 3a of slide 3 moves abutment 27 into wall 4 andslide 3 holds abutment 27 out of the way of the letter, pocket 5 andpanels 7, 8 as movement of slide 3 continues. When inner wall 5a ofpocket 5 meets finger panel 20 it closes the same, as indicated inFIGURE 4, and upon closure of panel 20 the lock 22 engages therewith toretain the panel 20 in closed position.

Continued movement of handle 6 to the right, as the parts are shown inthe drawings, moves the then folded panels 7, 8 and the pocket 5 intothe fixed end pocket 16. It will be observed that the fold of the lettershown in broken lines extends forwardly of the hinge point 9 betweenpocket 5 and panel 7. Thus at least a portion of the folded letterextends beyond the pocket 5 and panels 7, 8 within pocket 16, the saidletter portion being in alignment with the recess 17. The operator thengrasps the envelope on opposite sides of the recess 17 to grasp theenvelope and the letter portion in alignment with the recess 17. Theoperator then merely withdraws the envelope from the pocket 16, or tothe right as the parts are shown in the drawings; the letter, beinggrasped through compression of the envelope by the operator, enters theenvelope and leaves the pocket 16 as the envelope is withdrawntherefrom.

The operator then retracts the handle 6 into the position shown inFIGURE 1, or to the left as the parts are shown in the drawings. Catch24, having full freedom to do so, will merely ride over the ear 23 andup against surface 26 of slide 3 and out of the way. Thus panel 20 willremain locked in alignment with wall 4 and out of the way of a new sheetto be inserted for folding.

Similarly, as slide 3 moves to the left, the abutment 27 will berepositioned by spring 28 in the position shown for example in FIGURE 9.

Thus movement of the handle 6 in one direction is effective to fold andposition a letter within the internal area of an envelope carried onpocket 16. Withdrawal of the envelope in the same direction is effectiveto produce an envelope with the folded letter therein and a Singlemovement of the handle 6 in the opposite direction resets the assemblyof the invention for repeated operation.

There is claimed:

1. A sheet-folding assembly including a base, a fixed wall extendingfrom said base, a slide mounted for movement on said 'base along theface of said wall in spaced relation therewith, said wall and slideforming a sheetreceiving chamber, said slide including a plurality ofarticulated panels, .movement of said slide in one direction beingefiective to articulate at least some of said panels outwardly from saidwall to produce an initial fold in said sheet, further movement of saidslide in said direction being effective to articulate at least some ofsaid panels inwardly toward said wall to complete said fold.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a fingerassembly extendable into said chamber to move said sheet toward saidpanels.

3. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a pocketstructure positioned on said base to receive a folded sheet from saidslide in response to further movement of said slide in said direction.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said pocket structure is externallydimensioned to fit within an envelope and having a forward opening toreceive a folded sheet and a rear opening for passage therethrough ofsaid sheet.

5. The structure of claim 3 wherein said pocket structure includes afolded sheet exposing configuration at its distal end whereby saidfolded sheet may be drawn outwardly from said structure in the directionof said slide movement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,164,844 12/1915 Mudge 270-611,424,881 8/1922 Cowen 27061 2,646,982 7/1953 Hendrix 27061 LAWRENCECHARLES, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 53255

